Pallet sling



1963 R. P. MILES 3,115,361

PALLET SLING Filed July 13, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTQR RAY F? MILES ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 R. P. MILES PALLET SLING Filed July 15, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RAY P. MILES A TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,115,361 PALLET SLHNG Ray 1?. Miles, 8575 Melody Lane, Macedonia, Ohio Filed duly 13, 196i, Ser. No. 123,794 6 Claims. (6. 294-112) This invention relates to a pallet sling and more particularly to an automatic mechanical pallet sling capable of engaging and releasing loads of varying widths.

The pallet sling of this invention possesses a number of advantages. its construction is relatively uncomplicated as compared with many of the prior devices known. Its operation is simple and can be easily maneuvered. The pallet sling is safer and has more positive holding power than devices heretofore known. A particular advantage is its ability to automatically adjust to any width of load and in so doing, the lifting members of the sling remain parallel at all times regardless of the width of load. The pallet sling can be constructed to carry any size container or pallet load up to twenty or thirty feet square, or more if necessary.

An object of this invention is to provide a pallet sling or apparatus for lifting a load which comprises a horizontal beam member or means, swivel arms or means which are pivotally connected to the horizontal beam member at each end, lift arms or means which are pivotally connected to the swivel means, cable means ecured to said lift means and engaging the swivel means and the horizontal beam member as by roller means and also secured to a lift ring capable of engaging a crane hook, and hook means on the lift arms capable of engaging the load to be carried.

Other objects will be apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the pallet sling showing it in a relatively intermediate position engaging a load L contained on a pallet P. In phanton view, the pallet sling is shown in its most extended position.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational end view of the pallet sling shown in phantom in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the pallet sling similarly as shown in FIGURE 1 except that the load and pallet are not shown and in addition a modification of the pallet sling is shown.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment shown of the pallet sling comprises a horizontal beam means ltl, a pair of swivel arm means 14, a pair of lift arm means 19, a pair of hook means 24, and a pair of cable means '25.

The horizontal beam comprises a pair of channel members 18a and Nb spaced apart and connected at both ends by spacer plates 11 welded thereto. Located between the spaced channel members near the center thereof are two nylon rollers 13 secured by pins 12 whose function will be seen hereinafter.

Each swivel arm 14 comprises channel members 14a and 14b. The upper ends of the two channel members are spaced apart and pivotally connected to each side of the spacer plate 11 by means of pin 15 to form a pivot point A. An inwardly projecting plate 16 is welded to the lower end of each of the channel members 14a and 14b.

A nylon roller 17 is located between the spaced channel members at or near the center thereof by means of pin 18.

Each lift arm 19 comprises a vertical member 20 which has a face plate 21 welded to the upper end thereof. A bracket 22 comprising members 22a and 22b is welded to the other end of member 20. A channel member 23 is welded to the lower end of bracket 22. A pair of hooks 25 are securely welded to channel member 23 and bracket 22. Each lift arm 19' is pivotally connected by means of pin 28 to the inwardly projecting plates 16 of swivel arm 14 to form a pivot point B.

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A pair of cables 25 of equal length are secured at one end to a steel ring 26. The other end of each cable is securely fastened to lift arm 29 at a point .27 intermediate the upper end thereof and pivot point B. The cable 25 passes under nylon roller =13 and over nylon roller 17.

The operation of the device is as follows: as is shown in FIGURE 1, a load L is resting in pallet P. If it is desired to lift the load from its resting position, the pallet sling is suspended from a crane hook (not shown) by means of steel ring 26, and maneuvered around the load L. The hooks 24 are placed under the pallet on both sides and maneuvered manually or in any suitable manner whereby the hooks and face plates 21 are secured against the pallet and upper portion of the load respectively. The load may then be lifted and moved to any desired position.

The pressure being exerted by the load on the hooks 24 as it is lifted will create a tension on the two steel cables. A minor portion of the weight of the load will result in a squeeze effect or holding effect across the hooks on both lift arms. Due to the hold-back of the cables at point 27, there is no pressure exerted by the face plates 21 against the upper portion of the load and there fore the two lift arms 19 will remain parallel.

The horizontal beam 1t) and swivel arms 14 carry very little of the transmitted load weight. Most of the load weight is carried by the lift arms and cables.

The position of the lift arms as shown in FIGURE 1 is an intermediate one. In phantom, the maximum open position is shown. Swivel arms 14 are pivotable around points A to accommodate loads of varying widths. All that need be done, is to lift steel ring 26 and this operation will automatically adjust the lift arms and swivel arms to whatever width a particular load and pallet occupy.

Whatever width encountered between maximum and intermediate positions, the lift arms will remain parallel upon engagement of the load by the hooks and the transmitted squeeze effect across the hooks will still be proportionate to the load weight and the swivel arms would swivel around points A to accommodate the width of load encountered.

A particular advantage of the pallet hook of this invention is the fact that the pallet hooks 24 will not tip up underneath the load and thereby gouge into it. The lift arms always remain parallel and therefore no gouging of the load will be encountered either by the hooks or the face plates 21. For additional safety, if desired, a strap may also be thrown completely around the two lift arms 19 and the load.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, a modified pallet sling is provided wherein the swivel arms 14 thereof are coupled together whereby an operator may place the lift arms '19 and books 24 against and under the pallet and load on both sides by merely adjusting only one swivel arm. The pallet sling shown in FIGURE 3 is the same as the one shown in FIGURE 1 in all respects except that an adjusting mechanism has been added. The mechanism comprises a vertical plate 33 secured to the horizontal beam in at its center. A member 32 is pivotally connected to the lower portion of plate 38 and at the center thereof by means of pin 34. Member 32 can rotate around a horizontal axis formed by pin 84. A pair of link arms 30 and ill of equal length are pivotally connected to each end of member 32 by means of pins 35 and 33 respectively. The opposite end of each link arm 36 and 31 is pivotally connected to right and left swivel arms 14- by means of pins as and 37 respectively.

In operation, the adjusting mechanism facilitates in the maneuvering of the hooks 24 under and face plates 21 against the pallet and load, respectively, regardless of the width thereof. Thus, the adjustment of the right swivel arm and right lift arm between the possible intermediate and maximum positions will simultaneously, by means of the adjusting mechanism described above, adjust the left swivel arm and left lift armto a similar position. In this manner, an operator of the device need only stand on one side of the load to maneuver and secure both sides of the sling to the load. in addition, the adjusting mechanism also provides added safety to the sling.

Although one complete embodiment and modification of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other adaptat-ions and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus each of the swivel arms 14 and the horizontal beam need not be pairs of channel members joined together. For example, the swivel arms may be single channel members containing the nylon roller on one side and pivotally attached in a suitable manner at pivot points A and B.

Furthermore, the invention also is directed to a pallet sling which comprises a combination of at least two pallet slings as described in FIGURES l and 2. This arrangement, for example, could comprise two horizontal beams at right angles to each other with four swivel arms, four lift arms, and four cables attached to steel ring 26. In this manner, the pallet hooks would engage the pallet and load from four sides.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for lifting a load of varying widths comprising substantially horizontal beam means, swivel means pivotally connected to said beam means, lift means pivotally connected to said swivel means, cable means movably engaging said beam means at an intermediate portion thereof and also movably engaging said swivel means at a portion thereof below said beam means, said cable means secured to the upper portion of said lift means at a point below said movably engaging portion on said swivel means, hook means on said lift means, said lift means being capable of being adjusted to accommodate varying load widths while at the same time remaining parallel to each other.

2. An apparatus for lifting a load of varying Widths comprising a substantially horizontal beam member, swivel arms pivotally connected to the end portions of said beam member, lift arms pivotally connected to the end portions of said swivel arms, cable means movably engaging said beam member at an intermediate portion thereof and also movably engaging said swivel arms at an intermediate portion thereof below said beam member, said cable means secured to the upper portion of said lift arms at a point below said movably engaging portion on said swivel arms, hook means on the lower portion of said lift arms, said lift arms being capable of being adjusted to accommodate varying load widths while at the same time remaining parallel to each other.

3. An apparatus for lifting loads of varying widths comprising a horizontal beam member, roller means on an intermediate portion of said beam member, swivel arms pivotally connected at one end to each end of said beam member, roller means on an intermediate portion of said swivel arms, lift arms pivotally connected at their intermediate portion to the other end of said swivel arms, cable means engaging said beam member roller means and also engaging said swivel arm roller means, said cable means secured to the upper portion of said lift arms at a point below said swivel arm roller means, hook means on the lower portion of said lift arms, said lift arms being capable of being adjusted to accommodate varying load wildths while at the same time remaining parallel to each ot er.

4. An apparatus for lifting a load of varying widths comprising substantially horizontal beam means, swivel means pivotally connected to said beam means, lift means pivotally connected to said swivel means, cable means movably engaging said beam means at an intermediate portion thereof and also movably engaging said swivel means at a portion thereof below said beam means, said cable means secured to the upper portion of said lift means at a point below said movably engaging portion on said swivel means, hook means on said lift means, adjusting means for simultaneously adjusting said swivel means and said lift means comprising link means pivotally connected to said swivel means, said lift means being capable of be ing adjusted to accommodate varying load widths while at the same time remaining parallel to each other.

5. An apparatus for lifting loads of varying widths comprising a horizontal beam member, roller means on an intermediate portion of said beam member, swivel arms pivotally connected at one end to each end of said beam member, rol er means on an intermediate portion of said swivel arms, lift arms pivotally connected at their intermediate portion to the other end of said swivel arms, cable means engaging said beam member roller means and also engaging said swivel arm roller means, said cable means secured to the upper portion of said lift arms at a point below said swivel arm roller means, hook means on the lower portion of said lift arms, adjusting means comprising link means and a pivotable member, each of said link means pivotally connected to said pivotable member and to one of said swivel arms, said lift ar-ms being capable of being adjusted to accommodate varying load widths while at the same time remaining parallel to each other.

6. An apparatus for lifting loads of varying widths comprising a horizontal beam member containing a pair of rollers, a pair of swivel arms, a pair of lift arms, one end of the first swivel arm being pivotally connected to one end of said beam member and the other end of said first swivel arm being pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the first lift arm, one end of the second swivel arm being pivotally connected to the opposite end of said beam member and the other end of said second swivel arm being pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the second lift arm, roller means on the intermediate portion of each of said swivel arms, a pair of cables, the first cable secured to the upper portion of said first lift arm and engaging said roller means on said first swivel arm and one of said roller means on said beam member, the second cable secured to the upper portion of said second lift arm and engaging the roller means on said second swivel arm and the second of said roller means on said beam member, hook means on the lower portion of said lift arms, said lift anms being capable of being adjusted to accommodate varying load widths while at the same time remaining parallel to each other.

References (Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR LIFTING A LOAD OF VARYING WIDTHS COMPRISING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL BEAM MEANS, SWIVEL MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID BEAM MEANS, LIFT MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SWIVEL MEANS, CABLE MEANS MOVABLY ENGAGING SAID BEAM MEANS AT AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF AND ALSO MOVABLY ENGAGING SAID SWIVEL MEANS AT A PORTION THEREOF BELOW SAID BEAM MEANS, SAID CABLE MEANS SECURED TO THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID LIFT MEANS AT A POINT BELOW SAID MOVABLY ENGAGING PORTION ON SAID SWIVEL MEANS, HOOK MEANS ON SAID LIFT MEANS, SAID LIFT MEANS BEING CAPABLE OF BEING ADJUSTED TO ACCOMMODATE VARYING LOAD WIDTHS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REMAINING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER. 